The Imperial Royal Guard is a special detachment of hand-picked
Imperial stormtroopers who serve as the Emperor's personal guards. Each of
these soldiers is specially scrutinized to fit select size, strength,
intelligence and loyalty requirements, and equipment and training is lavished
upon them.

No firm figures are available on the exact number of Royal
Guards serving the Emperor, but speculation ranges from fewer than 50 to the
tens of thousands. Whatever the case, the Royal Guard has become a
formidable military sub-unit which is directly under the control of the Emperor.

The entire Royal Guard is never sent on combat missions. A
few small elements of the guard members usually disperse with their ceremonial
uniform and don the armor worn by other stormtroopers in the operation. In
such instances, the guard members are always part of the same unit. They
are never dispersed among the ordinary Army units.

Rumors abound about this fierce fighting force. The legend
is that no Royal Guard member has yet been killed in combat. Stories tell
of their invincible fighting prowess - always in the service of the Emperor.

Royal Guards wear garb consisting of flowing red robes, red
battle armor, and red helmets. Although ceremonial, the red armor does not
hamper guardsmen in regards to movement or fighting. This armor is derived
from a pair of similar designs, the uniforms of the Death Watch of the Mandalore
system and the Sun Guards of the Thyrus system. That the armor resembles
those of units with such ferocious reputations is no accident, and the red glint
of the Imperial Royal Guard armor inspires fear in the hardest of men.